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. 2009 Oct;65(4):353-8.
doi: 10.1016/S0377-1237(09)80099-3. Epub 2011 Jul 21.

Clinical Applications of PET and PET-CT

S S Anand  1 , H Singh  2 , A K Dash  3
Affiliations

Clinical Applications of PET and PET-CT

S S Anand et al. Med J Armed Forces India. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/ computed tomography (CT) are emerging as important imaging techniques and their popularity is growing within the medical fraternity. Though PET has been a useful research tool for many decades its real growth into clinical applications has occurred in the last one decade or so. Currently its major use is in oncologic imaging. However it has a multitude of clinical applications in cardiology, neurology and psychiatry as well. In oncologic imaging, a major advantage of PET is that a single whole-body examination can provide accurate assessment of disease activity and spread. PET/CT amalgamates the functional information of PET with the structural details of the CT scan, thus greatly aiding in accurate staging, therapy response assessment and early detection of recurrent disease.

Keywords: Positron emission tomography.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A and B): FDG PET/CT for staging a case of NHL. Coronal (A) and axial (B) fused PET/CT images show metabolically active disease in multiple groups of enlarged lymph nodes below the diaphragm (arrows). Spleen and bone marrow were normal (Stage II disease).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Coronal plain CT (2A) and fused PET/CT (2B) images shows FDG uptake at the periphery of an abdominal mass lesion with central cold area of necrosis. Biopsy from the periphery confirmed adenocarcinoma. Hepatic metastatic lesion was picked up (black arrow).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(A and B): Brain FDG PET/CT scan in an operated, post radiotherapy case of high grade glioma. Axial plain CT (A) and PET (B) images show focal areas of increased metabolism in an ill defined, hypodense lesion with calcification, in Right frontal lobe (arrows) indicating residual/recurrent tumor.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
(A and B): FDG PET/CT Scan for solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN): Axial, lung window CT image (A) shows a nodular parenchymal lesion in right lung (arrow). Axial PET/CT fused image (B) reveals intense FDG uptake in the nodule (arrow) indicating malignant nature of the nodule.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
(A and B): FDG PET/CT for therapeutic assessment in a case of metastatic breast carcinoma. Coronal PET / CT images: Pretherapy image (A) shows a large pleural effusion with FDG avid pleural metastases in right hemithorax and a metastatic nodule in the left lung (arrows). Post therapy image (B) six months later, reveals marked resolution of the disease.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
(A and B): Cardiac PET/CT Scan, horizontal long axis sections of the left ventricle: NH3 rest perfusion images (A, Top Row) show a perfusion defect (arrow) in the apex of left ventricle. FDG metabolism images (B, Bottom Row) reveal normal FDG uptake in the apex. Inference: hypo-perfused but viable (hibernating) myocardium in the apex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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